Again, the Rebels win without playing their best basketball. It says something when you keep finding a way to win, but there will be teams coming up soon — like Kentucky and Florida in the coming week — who will make it very hard to win if you leave points on the table at the free throw line where the Rebels were 4-for-17.
For now, the Rebels can reflect on that and perhaps improve that number against Kentucky Tuesday night on ESPN.
Big game from LaDarius White. You can see the ability. He finished with 17 points, a season-high, on 7-for-9 shooting.
More in Day After Observations tomorrow morning.
Andy Kennedy
LaDarius White
—
The Rebels are quite fortunate to be down just two right now.
Marshall Henderson hit a hot spurt in the first half, not the second, and that kept the Rebels close for a while.
But Henderson and Reggie Buckner both missed the last eight minutes or so with foul trouble, each with two.
There was a time in the half when the Ole Miss frontcourt consisted of Aaron Jones in the middle, flanked by Terry Brutuz and Anthony Perez.
Ole Miss has played a lot of zone, and while that has slowed Auburn from the perimeter, the Tigers are still managing to get good looks inside. They have outscored the Rebels 16-10 in the paint.
While Henderson was hot, the Rebels are getting nothing from Murphy Holloway, who is 0-for-2 from the floor, 0-for-2 from the line. He could have about six or eight points right now. He does have five rebounds, but with Holloway struggling and Buckner in foul trouble, Auburn has a 19-18 rebounding edge.
Ole Miss is shooting 38.7 percent from the floor. Some late defense has Auburn down to 43.3.
With an offensively-challenged lineup on the floor late, Jarvis Summers took over and has eight points.
The Rebels were down 10 when they got a little defense and scored the last eight of the half, including a banked-in 3 by Jones at the buzzer.
—
A little shootaround video here. This is what Auburn Arena looks like an hour before tip. Most of the student section seats are filled. There was some mild taunting of Marshall Henderson while he moved around the 3-point line, but it was pretty quiet.
Ole Miss officials have toured this arena more than once to get ideas to incorporate into the new Ole Miss arena, whenever that is.
Auburn has sectioned off media seating in a corner of the second level. It’s really a nice view of the entire court.
—
Tip: 7 p.m. Auburn Arena (9,121)
TV: Fox Sports Net
Radio: Ole Miss network. Satellite: Sirius 117, XM 200
Series: Auburn leads 73-52
Rankings: Ole Miss No. 23 AP, No. 24 USA Today; Auburn N/A
Last Year: Ole Miss 61-51 at Oxford; Auburn 69-68 2-OT at Auburn; Ole Miss 68-54 SEC tournament
Coaches – Auburn, Tony Barbee116-98, seven seasons; 34-46 third season at Auburn. Ole Miss, Andy Kennedy, 162-93, eight seasons, 141-80, seventh season at Ole Miss.
Notes: Ole Miss is seeking its first 6-0 start to SEC play … The Rebels have won eight straight. … Andy Kennedy is three wins from tying B.L. Graham for most victories by an Ole Miss coach. … Ole Miss F Murphy Holloway is 15 rebounds away from tying Walter Actwood for most in school history. … Holloway leads the SEC with nine double-doubles. Ole Miss F Reggie Buckner is tied for second with six double-doubles. … Buckner’s 279 career blocked shots far out-paces all active SEC players. Next is Arkansas’ Hunter Mickelson with 99. … Auburn coach Tony Barbee is 2-4 against Ole Miss including 2-3 at Auburn. … Barbee’s UTEP team lost to then-No. 20 Ole Miss 91-81 in Southaven in December of 2009. … Auburn G Frankie Sullivan has 327 career 3-point field goal attempts, a school record.
Auburn 8-10, 2-3 SEC
Probable starters Pts. Reb.
F Allen Payne 6-6 Jr. 8.3 4.9
C Rob Chubb 6-10 Sr. 10.3 7.8
G Shaquille Johnson 6-5 Fr. 4.6 1.6*
G Josh Wallace 5-10 Sr. 3.6 3.6*
G Frankie Sullivan 6-1 Sr. 17.2 4.4
Key reserves
G Chris Denson 6-1 Jr. 11.0 3.4
F Noel Johnson 6-6 Sr. 6.2 2.4
Ole Miss 16-2, 5-0 SEC
F Murphy Holloway 6-7 Sr. 15.4 10.4
F Reggie Buckner 6-9 Sr. 10.3 8.1
G LaDarius White 6-6 So. 3.9 2.1
G Jarvis Summers 6-3 So. 8.5 3.9*
G Marshall Henderson 6-2 Jr. 19.4 3.4
Key Reserves
G Nick Williams 6-4 Sr. 10.1 2.6
F Aaron Jones 6-9 So. 3.2 3.9
- - assists per game
Denham Springs, La., native, Mississippian since 1989 with a stop in Meridian before arriving in Tupelo. Daily Journal beat writer since 1996, covering Ole Miss since 2002. Proud Northeast Louisiana alum. Follow me on Twitter @parrishalford and listen to Kory Keys and myself daily with The Ole Miss Beat on Rebel Sports Radio.
